The privacy of direct messages and rep points

[sierraAZ]

I've worked with databases, so that's not news to me, but many members believe the comments they leave with rep points and direct messages they exchange are private. According to the "revised" ? TOS I just received they are NOT! I'd like to see a clarification of the issue one way or another.

Insulting another member or a moderator will not be tolerated anywhere on this website. This includes Direct Messages and Reputation Comments

To me this quote implies all rep comments and DMs are being read.

[scirocco22]

Being read by who? The only ones that have access to DMs are the administrators (Administrator, Markablue, and Yac), and I'd guess the webmaster who probably doesn't have any reason to read a DM.

The administrators have told us that they won't read DMs unless they suspect that spamming is going on.

As far as rep point comments go, all moderators have access to the reputation comments of each member but what moderator has the time to go reading all rep comments of thousands of members? The only time they might be looked at by a moderator is if they are reported and the moderator wants to present the situation to an administrator (senior moderator).

So no, all your DMs and rep points comments are not being read ...only if they are reported or if spamming is suspected.

[sierraAZ]

Originally Posted by scirocco22

So no, all your DMs and rep points comments are not being read.

Then what do you suggest the quote above means?

[scirocco22]

Originally Posted by sierraAZ

Then what do you suggest the quote above means?

If somebody reports that you are sending harassing DMs or "insulting another member or a moderator" in a DM to another member, that's when the DM will be read by a senior moderator.

With only three administrators on this site who have the ability to read DMs, how do you suppose they can read all the DMs written in a day?

[sierraAZ]

Originally Posted by scirocco22

With only three administrators on this site who have the ability to read DMs, how do you suppose they can read all the DMs written in a day?

I don't believe they physically CAN read all of them, but I find the thought of ANY of them being read quite disturbing and I'll venture to say I wouldn't be the only one who feels the same way. A "private" message implies it's a thought shared between the sender and the receiver. We're not talking mass mailing or spam here.

[scirocco22]

I feel the same way if that makes you feel any better. However, it's no longer called a "Private Message" it's a "Direct Message."

Again, a Direct Message will not be read unless it is reported or if spamming is suspected. You'll have to just "trust" or "have faith" of that statement. Sure, one of the three administrators CAN read your Direct Messages at any time but why would they? ...I'm sure they have better things to do.

[Aylalou]

Maybe you can email the person instead of DM.

[sierraAZ]

Originally Posted by scirocco22

I feel the same way if that makes you feel any better. However, it's no longer called a "Private Message" it's a "Direct Message."

You have a point... I was thinking about it as I was typing it.

Again, a Direct Message will not be read unless it is reported or if spamming is suspected. You'll have to just "trust" or "have faith" of that statement. Sure, one of the three administrators CAN read your Direct Messages at any time but why would they? ...I'm sure they have better things to do.

It seems like a strange catch 22 to me. Unless you read it, you wouldn't know what's in it, would you?! And what would the basis for "reporting" people's DMs be...?!

[sierraAZ]

Originally Posted by Aylalou

Maybe you can email the person instead of DM.

You sure can, but that's not what we're talking about. Besides, you may want to contact somebody who doesn't accept e-mails, not to mention that even if they do, you still write on a forum's form again, not from your e-mail directly.

[scirocco22]

Let's say you get a nasty Direct Message. If you report it, a senior moderator "might" read several of the sender's DMs to make sure they are not sending nasty DM's to other members.

That's just one scenario.